Airship



UNITED STATES.

PAT/EN T OFFICE.

SALVADOR c. FARINA, or WEST NEWVYORK, NEW JERSEY.

Application filed May 18,

sustaining elements inoperative or powerless. The invention isparticularly adaptable for use in connection with aeroplanes, whereinthe sustaining power is derived from the speed or propulsion of itscarrying planes through the air, so that in case any accident occurs toits propelling mechanism the entire machine often falls to the ground,which frequently results in its injury or destruction or in injury ordeath to its' occupants.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. I

In the accompanying drawings,--

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of an aeroplane which isequipped with these improvements, and shows .the latter in operativecondition. 1 w v Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the aeroplane andimprovements shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper carrying plane of the aeroplane,showing the invention in inoperative state.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the middle portion of thefuselage of the aeroplane shown in Figs. 1, 2, and shows the operatingmechanism of this invention.

The aeroplane 1 comprises the usual fuselage or directive body 2, upperand lower carrying planes or aerofoils 3, 4, front and rear struts 5, 6,bracing wires 7, rudders 8, 9, propelling motor or engine 10, gasolenesupply tank 11, motor batteries 12,'propel- 1er'13,;1anding gear 14, andlanding spur 15.

On top of the upper plane 3 is located .a bag or balloon '16whichnormally lies thereon in collapsed state, as shown in Fig.

i 3, and to the sides of theballoon is secured a' pair of planes 17,which, when the balloon is incollapsed state, lie thereupon in themanner shown in Fig. 3. Said balloon and erasure.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922. 1921. Serial m5. 479,594.

planes 17 are maintained against lateral or other dislocation,relatively to the carrying plane 3, by means of dogs 18, hinged at 19,being pressed against the-planes 17 by springs 20 that are secured tothe planes .3 and to extensions 21 forming partof the dogs l8. Theballoon 16 and planes 17 may be made of any suitable material, of whichsuch parts are usually constructed, as is well known to those versed inthis-art. To the planes 17 are secured series ofcables 22 at 23,whichare in turn secured to the carrying plane 3 at 24.

exiblepipe or base 25 is connected to the balloon 16 at 26, from whereit extends downwardly, passes through the plane 3, and into the fuselage2, whereat it is joined to a valve 27 connectedto a union28 that isconnected to a pair of tanks 29, which are filled with compressed air orpreferably with some other compressed light as such as is used forinflating balloons. etween the tanks 29 is located a pump30 which isdriven by a motor 31 that is fed from the gasolene tank Hand is suppliedwith current for ignition and operation of its starting device 31 by thebatteries 12. An operating lever 32 is pivoted to the floor of thefuselage 2 at 33, and a chain 34 secured to said lever passes around apulley 35 to a point 36, whereat it is joined to a pair ofchains 37 thatpass around pulleys 38 and extend in opposite directions and are'secured to extensions 39 that form part'of the dogs 18. To the lever32.is pivoted an operating bar 40, to which :are in .turn pivoted anoperating lever 41 for the valve 27, a lever-switch 42 forthe enginestartingdevice 31", and-an operating lever 43, for a valve 44 connectedto a pipe 45 which feeds the gasolene from the tank 11 to the motor 31.

Normally, the balloon 16 and lanes 17 are disposed in the collapsedassem led condition, as shown in Fig. 3, and the aeroplane can beoperated and utilized in the re lar manner; Should there occur anaccident during flight, such as the stoppage of the engine or someinjury or mishap to the propeller or other vital part of the machine,

which would cause the aeroplane to fall, the Y 42 to open the valve 27and to feed the gasolene and electric current for the starting the pump30 device 31 and engine 31 to drive the pump 30. Thecompressed air orgas in the tanks 29 will then enter and inflate the balloon 16 throughthe pipe 25, and simultaneously will" operate to feed additionalcompressed air to the balloon, whereby the latter will rise, above theplane 3 and the machine, and cause its planes 17 to open. up and extendin the operative position shown in Figs. 1, 2, with the cables 22securing the planes 17 and balloon 16 to the machine, in the mannershown. The balloon 16 and planes 17 being thus disposed in the inflatedand operative condition they will constitute auxiliary sustainingvmeans"for the aeroplane, which will prevent it from rapidly falling to theground and permit it to descend gradually, and willthereby save themachine and its occupants. It will be noted that when the balloon andauxiliary planes 17 are in inoperative state and secured to the carryingplane 3 they lie lengthwise thereupon, but when in the operative state,Figs. 1, 2, they are disposed rightangularly to the carrying planes andparallel to the fuselage 2, in which manner they tend to buoy up andsustain the machine in perfect equilibrium when they are in operativecondition, while they do not in any way interfere with the operation ofthe aeroplane when they are in assembled inoperative state. finallylanded upon the ground and rendered fit for further flight, the balloonand auxiliary planes 17 may be again readily reassembled intoinoperative condition and the aeroplane may be thus restored for furtherservice.

It will be clearly evident to those versed in this art that although theinvention and lmprovements are here illustrated and shown as beingutilized in connection with an aeroplane, the means and principles un--derlying the same may be well utilized in. connection with any otherkind of aerial vehicle.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with anairship, means to prevent accidental rapid'descent thereof including aballoon-which is in collapsed state during flight, an airplane which isin inoperative state during flight, means containing compressed fluid,means to permit' When the machine is said fluid to enter and inflatesaid balloon, and said balloon actuating said airplane into operativestate.

2. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidentalrapid'descent thereof including a balloon which is in collapsed stateduring flight, a pair of airplanes secured to said balloon, one at eachside thereof, and in inoperative state during flight, means containingcompressed fluid, means to permit said fluid to enter and inflate saidballoon, and said balloon actuating said airplane into operative state.

3. An aeroplane having provision to prevent accidental rapid descentthereof including a balloon which is attached to its carrying plane in acollapsed state during flight, an auxiliary sustaining plane which isconnected to its carrying plane in an inoperative condition duringflight, means containing compressed fluid, means to permit said fluid toenter and inflate said balloon, and said balloon actuating saidsustaining airplane into operative state.

4. An aeroplane having provision to pre- ',vent accidental rapid descentthereof including a balloon which is attached to its carrying plane in acollapsed state during flight, a pair of auxiliary sustaining planeswhich are connected to its carrying plane, one at each side of saidballoon, and in inoperative state during flight, means containingcompressed fluid, means to permit sald fluid to enter and inflate saidballoon, and said balloon actuating said auxiliary sustaining planesinto operative state.

5. An aeroplane having provision to prevent accidental rapid descentthereof including a balloon which is attached to its carrying plane-in acollapsed state during flight, a pair of auxiliary sustaining planeswhich are connected to its carrying plane,

one at each side of said balloon, and in inoperative state duringflight, means to maintain the balloon and said auxiliary planes to thecarrying plane in the inoperative state, means containing compressedfluid, means to permit said fluid to enter and inflate said balloon,said balloon actuating said auxiliary sustaining planes into operativestate, and means to release said mamtaining means whenpermittlng thefluid to enter the balloon.

6. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidental rapiddescent thereof including a balloon which is in collapsed state duringflight, a tank containing compressed fluid being connected to saldballoon, a pump connected to said tank, means to operate said pump, andmeans adapted to control said last'means and to simultaneously open theconnection between said tank and balloon to permit the fluid from saidtank and pump to enter the balloon.

7. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidental rapiddescent thereof including a balloon which is in collapsed state duringflight, an airplane Which is in inoperative state during flight, a tankcontaining compressed fluid being connected to said balloon, meansadapted to open and close said connection enter and inflate saidballoon, and said balloon actuating said aeroplane into operative state.

8. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidental rapiddescent thereof including a balloon which is in collapsed state duringflight, an airplane which is in to permit said fluid to inoperativestate during flight, a tank containing compressed fluid being connectedto said balloon, a pump connected to said tank, means to operate saidpump, means adapted to control said last means and to simultaneouslyopen the connection between said tank and balloon to permit the fluidfrom said tank and pump to enter the balloon, and said balloon actuatingsaid airplane into operative state.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York, and State ofNew York, this 13th day of'May, A. D. 1921.

SALVADOR C. FARINA.

